Armed N.Korean Soldiers Defect

Eight armed North Korean soldiers defected last month across the Apnok (or Yalu) River separating North Korea and China, prompting security to be tightened around the Chinese border town of Dandong, the Daily NK reported Wednesday.

Citing border guards in Dandong, the online news outlet said the soldiers crossed the border in Kuandian around Nov. 20, and that two of them were shot and killed while six escaped. Kuandian is around 100 km northeast of Dandong.

Chinese soldiers were dispatched to Kuandian following the incident and inspected people passing through train stations and other public places. North Korea apparently sent scores of public security agents to arrest the soldiers.

It remains unknown whether North Korean and Chinese soldiers exchanged fire during the incident. The Daily NK reported rumors that Chinese soldiers were bribed to look the other way while the North Koreans defected. A South Korean intelligence official said he has not been informed of the incident and would need to verify it.